Medical experts in Lagos say that regular intake of bitter kola (Garcinia) has little or no side effect on human health.
The experts in Lagos said that bitter kola was a potent antibiotic, which could be effective in the treatment of many ailments and infections.
Dr Bartholomew Brai, Nutritional Biochemist at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, said that bitter kola was used in the preparation of herbal drugs either as nourishment, supplement or herbal remedy.
Brai said, “If a patient on medication chews bitter kola, it will make the drugs ineffective. Aside this, I do not think bitter kola has any other side effect.
“Bitter kola has lots of health benefits, like the treatment of cough, sneezing, cold, diarrhoeas, tuberculosis, bacterial infection and fever.
“It improves lungs function by expanding the alveolar ducts and sac in the lungs thereby improving and strengthening the fibres in the lung tissue.”
He said that there was no recorded side effect to the regular intake of bitter kola, adding that it was all round medicinal.
Also speaking, Dr Emeka Amaechi, a general physician, said that bitter kola had chemical compounds that could help the breakdown of glycogen in the liver.
“Bitter kola has antioxidant properties used as tonic for the liver and the gall bladder, which helps detoxifies the body system.
“It clears the voice by stimulating the production of mucus along the lining of the vocal tube which softens the dry throat,” Amaechi said.
He also said that bitter kola was anti-poison.
According to him, when food is suspected to be contaminated by bacteria, chewing of bitter kola will prevent the development of any infection or poison.
“It also reduces eye pressure and relieves arthritis by reducing swelling, pain and increase joint movement,” the doctor said.
Amaechi, however, said that the likely side effect of eating bitter kola could be incurred by any patient on drugs or medication.
The on line publication, “The amazing powers of bitter kola” said, “One general remark is that bitter kola is an anti-biotic.
“It can be eaten at any time and again no side effects under normal condition. It is one of those medicines that have no over dose.”
The bitter kola is another type of kola found in parts of Nigeria. Its biological name is “Garcinia kola” and it belongs to the family of “Guittiferal”.
It is a wonderful agricultural product with a wide range of applications in natural and orthodox medicine. (NAN)
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We may add that it is easy to get used to its bitterness. It's a good snack that can replace chin-chin, biscuits or sweets.
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